Canonsburg police nab suspected drug dealer

By Kathie Warco

Staff Writer

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A Canonsburg man suspected of being a high-level dealer of marijuana in the area was arrested Friday by borough police.

Eric E. Chronister, 34, of 120 Oak Spring Road, was taken into custody while he was on his lunch break from his job. Police served a search warrant at his home and found a few pounds of suspected marijuana as well as drug paraphernalia at his home. Suspected steroids also were found

Borough police Detective Sgt. Al Coghill said Monday Chronister’s arrest was a result of a cooperative effort with Cecil Township police.

“Cecil police, in particular Officer Jeff Holt, brought information to us about Chronister,” Coghill said. “He had been flying under the radar until Officer Holt brought him to our attention. Holt received information that Chronister was selling in Cecil and that he lived in Canonsburg.

“We believe him to be a significant dealer. The marijuana we found was still compressed in bricks,” the detective said. “At one point, he had 30 to 40 pounds of marijuana. When he was arrested, he told us that he would sell from three to five pounds a week.”

Coghill estimated he was making an average of $3,200 a week in marijuana sales.

Tracking down drug dealers is a top priority for Mayor David Rhome.

“As mayor, it is my job to keep the community safe and work with the police chief, detectives and officers,” Rhome said Monday. “When they get a lead, they run with it until it leads to an arrest. And I want the residents to know that any information we get is kept confidential.”

Chronister was arraigned before District Judge David Mark on charges of possession and possession with intent to deliver marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed in the Washington County jail on $50,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Thursday before Mark.